U.S. patent application number 10/157513 was filed with the patent office on 2003-01-16 for method and unit for forming a tubular wrapping about a product.
Invention is credited to Bertuzzi, Ivanoe, Draghetti, Fiorenzo, Tacchi, Alver.
Application Number | 20030009993 10/157513 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11439391 |
Filed Date | 2003-01-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030009993 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bertuzzi, Ivanoe ; et
al. |
January 16, 2003 |
Method and unit for forming a tubular wrapping about a product
Abstract
A method and unit for forming a tubular wrapping about a
rectangular-prism-shaped product, whereby a sheet of packing
material is folded about the product in a first folding step,
wherein the sheet of packing material is folded into a U about the
product so that an end portion of the sheet of packing material
projects crosswise with respect to a longitudinal axis of the
product and beyond the product itself; and in a second folding
step, wherein the end portion is subjected to traction in a
direction crosswise to the longitudinal axis of the product, and is
simultaneously folded further about the product to define the
tubular wrapping
Inventors: |
Bertuzzi, Ivanoe;
(Casalecchio de Reno, IT) ; Tacchi, Alver;
(Bologna, IT) ; Draghetti, Fiorenzo; (Medicina,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARSHALL, GERSTEIN & BORUN
6300 SEARS TOWER
233 SOUTH WACKER
CHICAGO
IL
60606-6357
US
|
Family ID: |
11439391 |
Appl. No.: |
10/157513 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/466 ;
53/234 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 11/30 20130101;
B65B 19/226 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/466 ;
53/234 |
International
Class: |
B65B 011/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 30, 2001 |
IT |
BO2001A000346 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of forming a tubular wrapping about a
rectangular-prism-shaped product, the method comprising a first
folding step in which a sheet (6) of packing material is folded
into a U about the product (3) so that an end portion (51) of the
sheet of packing material projects crosswise to a longitudinal axis
(4) of the product (3) and beyond the product (3) itself; and a
second folding step in which said end portion (51) is folded
further about the product (3) to define said tubular wrapping (2);
and being characterized in that said end portion (51) is subjected,
in the course of said second folding step, to traction in a
direction (54) crosswise to said longitudinal axis (4); said first
folding step being performed by placing said sheet (6) of packing
material in front of, and so as to close, an inlet (25) of a
U-shaped pocket (15) for said product (3); and inserting the
product (3) and said sheet (6) of packing material inside said
pocket (15) by moving said product (3) against said sheet (6) of
packing material and through said inlet (25).
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the course of said
first folding step, said sheet (6) of packing material is folded so
as to be positioned with a first end portion (49) contacting at
least part of a first lateral surface (7) of said product (3), and
with two intermediate portions (48, 50) respectively contacting a
second and a third lateral surface (9, 8) of said product (3); said
second folding step comprising a first substep in which said end
portion (51) is folded on to a fourth lateral surface (10) of said
product (3), so that a second end portion (53) projects from said
fourth lateral surface (10) and crosswise to said longitudinal axis
(4), and a second substep in which said second end portion (53) is
folded on to said first lateral surface (7) so as to at least
overlap said first end portion (49); said traction being applied to
said end portion (51) at least in the course of said second
substep.
3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first lateral
surface (7) is a major lateral surface (7) of said product (3) and
said second lateral surface (9) is a minor lateral surface (9) of
said product (3).
4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first substep is
performed by feeding said pocket (15) in a feed direction (14)
crosswise to said longitudinal axis (4) and along a packing path
(Pi) extending between a loading station (21), for loading said
product (3) and said sheet (6) of packing material into said pocket
(15), and an unloading station (22), and by interference between
said end portion (51) and folding means (34) located along said
packing path (Pi); said traction being applied to said end portion
(51) by braking means (38) located along said packing path (Pi) and
downstream from said folding means (34) in said feed direction
(14).
5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second substep is
performed by expelling said product (3) and said sheet (6) of
packing material from said pocket (15) at said unloading station
(22) in an unloading direction (24) crosswise to said third lateral
surface (8), and by feeding the product (3) and the sheet (6) of
packing material through a passage (29) of a width approximately
equal to but no smaller than a width of said third lateral surface
(8); said second end portion (53) being engaged by said braking
means (38) during at least an initial portion of the travel of said
product (3) and said sheet (6) of packing material through said
passage (29).
6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said traction is applied
by feeding said product (3) and said sheet (6) of packing material
along a packing path (Pi), and by said end portion (51) being
engaged by braking means (38) located along said packing path
(Pi).
7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said braking means (38)
are passive braking means.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said braking means (38)
are mechanical friction braking means.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said braking means (38)
are elastic gripper-type means.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said braking means (38)
comprise an anvil (43) movable with said product (3) along said
packing path (P1); and a hammer (37) located along said packing
path (P1), at a braking station (35), and moved across said packing
path (P1) by elastic means (42) to grip said end portion (51)
against said anvil (43) as said product (3) reaches said unloading
station (22).
11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said anvil (43)
comprises a roller (45) movable along said packing path (P1) with
said product (3), and mounted to rotate idly, with respect to the
product (3), about an axis (46) parallel to said longitudinal axis
(4).
12. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein at least one
peripheral portion of said roller (45) is made of resilient
material.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said hammer (37)
comprises a pad (41) of resilient material.
14. A unit for forming a tubular wrapping about a
rectangular-prism-shaped product having a longitudinal axis (4),
the unit comprising first folding means (20) for folding a sheet
(6) of packing material into a U about said product (3) so that an
end portion (51) of the sheet (6) of packing material projects
crosswise to said longitudinal axis (4) and beyond said product
(3); and second folding means (34, 30) for folding said end portion
(51) about said product (3) to define said tubular wrapping (2);
and being characterized by also comprising braking means (38)
associated with said second folding means (34, 30) and for
subjecting said end portion (51) to traction in a direction (54)
crosswise to said longitudinal axis (4).
15. A unit as claimed in claim 14, comprising a packing wheel (11)
mounted to rotate about an axis (13) of rotation; at least one
pocket (15) located on said packing wheel (11) and for receiving a
said product (3) positioned with the relative said longitudinal
axis (4) parallel to said axis (13) of rotation, said pocket (15)
being movable with said packing wheel (11) and in a given feed
direction (14) between a loading station (21) and an unloading
station (22) along a packing path (Pi); an unloading guide (26)
positioned with an inlet passage (29) at said unloading station
(22); first push means (23) for transferring a said product (3)
into said pocket (15) at said loading station (21); and second push
means (31) for transferring said product (3) to said unloading
guide (26) at said unloading station (22); said braking means (38)
being located along said packing path (P1), upstream from said
unloading station (22) in said feed direction (14).
16. A unit as claimed in claim 15, wherein said braking means (38)
are passive braking means.
17. A unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein said braking means (38)
are mechanical friction braking means.
18. A unit as claimed in claim 17, wherein said braking means (38)
are elastic gripper-type means.
19. A unit as claimed in claim 18, wherein said braking means (38)
comprise an anvil (43) movable with said product (3) along said
packing path (P1); and a hammer (37) located along said packing
path (P1), at a braking station (35), and moved across said packing
path (Pi) by elastic means (42) to grip said end portion (51)
against said anvil (43) as said product (3) reaches said unloading
station (22).
20. A unit as claimed in claim 19, comprising a fixed plate (32)
coaxial with said packing wheel (11) and extending, outside the
packing wheel (11), between said loading and unloading stations
(21, 22); an opening (36) being formed through said fixed plate
(32) at said braking station (35) and at a given first distance
from said unloading station (22) for the passage of said hammer
(37).
21. A unit as claimed in claim 20, wherein said anvil (43)
comprises a roller (45) fitted to said packing wheel (11) upstream
from said pocket (15) and at a distance from the pocket (15) equal
to said first distance; said roller (45) being fitted to said
packing wheel (11) to rotate idly, with respect to said pocket
(15), about an axis (46) parallel to the axis (13) of rotation of
said packing wheel (11).
22. A unit as claimed in claim 21, wherein at least one peripheral
portion of said roller (45) is made of resilient material.
23. A unit as claimed in claim 22, wherein said hammer (37)
comprises a pad (41) of resilient material.
24. A method of forming a tubular wrapping about a
rectangular-prism-shape- d product, the method comprising a first
folding step in which a sheet (6) of packing material is folded
into a U about the product (3) so that an end portion (51) of the
sheet of packing material projects crosswise to a longitudinal axis
(4) of the product (3) and beyond the product (3) itself; and a
second folding step in which said end portion (51) is folded
further about the product (3) to define said tubular wrapping (2);
said end portion (51) being subjected, in the course of said second
folding step, to traction in a direction (54) crosswise to said
longitudinal axis (4); in the course of said first folding step,
said sheet (6) of packing material is folded so as to be positioned
with a first end portion (49) contacting at least part of a major
lateral surface (7).
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a method of forming a
tubular wrapping about a product.
[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to a method
of forming a tubular wrapping about a substantially
rectangular-prism-shaped product, the method being of the type
comprising a first folding step in which a sheet of packing
material is folded into a U about the product so that an end
portion of the sheet projects crosswise to a longitudinal axis of
the product and beyond the product itself; and a second folding
step in which said end portion is folded further about the product
to define said tubular wrapping.
[0003] The present invention may be used to advantage in the
tobacco industry for forming tobacco products into packets or
packs, and in particular for forming products defined by groups of
packets of cigarettes into cartons, to which the following
description refers purely by way of example.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In the tobacco industry, cartoning machines are used, on
which a folding unit is supplied with a succession of groups of
packets of cigarettes and relative sheets of packing
material--which may be paper or transparent material such as
polypropylene--and performs the two folding steps described above
to form, about each group of packets, a tubular wrapping coaxial
with the longitudinal axis of the group.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,580 discloses a machine and a method for
forming tubular wrapping about a rectangular-prism-shaped product,
in particular a packet of cigarettes. According to such a method a
sheet of packing material is folded about the product so as to
define the tubular wrapping by means of a rotation of the product
around its longitudinal axis.
[0006] Experience has shown that, whereas, given the way it is
normally carried out, the first folding step normally results in
the sheet of packing material adhering perfectly to the group of
packets of cigarettes, the same does not always apply to the second
step with regard to the projecting end portion of the sheet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
packing method designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawback,
and which, at the same time, provides for fast, precise wrapping
and reduced maintenance. A further object of the present invention
is to provide a method which is cheap and easy to implement.
[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided a
method of forming a tubular wrapping about a
rectangular-prism-shaped product, the method comprising a first
folding step in which a sheet of packing material is folded into a
U about the product so that an end portion of the sheet of packing
material projects crosswise to a longitudinal axis of the product
and beyond the product itself; and a second folding step in which
said end portion is folded further about the product to define said
tubular wrapping; and being characterized in that said end portion
is subjected, in the course of said second folding step, to
traction in a direction crosswise to said longitudinal axis; said
first folding step being performed by placing said sheet of packing
material in front of, and so as to close, an inlet of a U-shaped
pocket for said product; and inserting the product and said sheet
of packing material inside said pocket by moving said product
against said sheet of packing material and through said inlet.
[0009] The present invention also relates to a unit for forming a
tubular wrapping.
[0010] According to the present invention, there is provided a unit
for forming a tubular wrapping about a rectangular-prism-shaped
product having a longitudinal axis, the unit comprising first
folding means for folding a sheet of packing material into a U
about said product so that an end portion of the sheet of packing
material projects crosswise to said longitudinal axis and beyond
said product; and second folding means for folding said end portion
about said product to define said tubular wrapping; and being
characterized by also comprising braking means associated with said
second folding means and for subjecting said end portion to
traction in a direction crosswise to said longitudinal axis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] A nonlimiting embodiment of the present invention will be
described by way of example with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of the
folding unit according to the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 shows, in perspective, a folding sequence for folding
a sheet of packing material about a product.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] Number 1 in FIG. 1 indicates as a whole a packing unit for
forming, as shown in FIG. 2, a tubular wrapping 2 about a
rectangular-prism-shaped product 3 having a longitudinal axis 4. In
the example shown, product 3 is defined by a group of packets 5 of
cigarettes arranged side by side along longitudinal axis 4 in two
superimposed layers; and tubular wrapping 2 is coaxial with
longitudinal axis 4 and formed by folding a sheet 6 of packing
material about product 3 in a direction crosswise to longitudinal
axis 4. More specifically, product 3 is defined laterally by two
major lateral surfaces 7 and 8 parallel to each other and to
longitudinal axis 4, and by two minor lateral surfaces 9 and 10
parallel to each other and to longitudinal axis 4, and
perpendicular to major lateral surfaces 7 and 8.
[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, unit 1 comprises a packing wheel 11
fitted to a powered shaft 12, which has an axis 13, perpendicular
to the FIG. 1 plane, and is rotated in 180.degree. steps about axis
13 in a direction 14 (clockwise in FIG. 1).
[0016] Along its outer periphery, packing wheel 11 has two
diametrically opposite radial pockets 15, each of which extends,
parallel to axis 13, along packing wheel 11, is open both radially
outwards and at the axial ends, and is defined by an end wall 16
parallel to axis 13 and having a longitudinal opening 17 parallel
to axis 13, and by two facing lateral walls 18 and 19 parallel to
axis 13 and perpendicular to end wall 16. Lateral wall 18 is
located upstream from lateral wall 19 in direction 14; and lateral
walls 18 and 19 of each pocket 15 define, together with relative
end wall 16, a relative rectangular-prism-shaped seat 20 for
receiving a relative product 3 positioned with its longitudinal
axis 4 parallel to axis 13.
[0017] Unit 1 also comprises a loading station 21 and an unloading
station 22 located diametrically opposite each other outside
packing wheel 11, which, at each rotation step of shaft 12 in
direction 14, transfers one pocket 15 from loading station 21 to
unloading station 22 along a packing path P1, and the other pocket
15 from unloading station 22 to loading station 21 along a return
path P2.
[0018] Loading station 21 comprises a pusher 23, which moves back
and forth in a radial direction 24 with respect to axis 13, and
cooperates with the minor lateral surface 10 of a product
3--located at loading station 21 with longitudinal axis 4 parallel
to axis 13--to insert product 3 inside a pocket 15--arrested at
loading station 21--so that product 3 is positioned, inside
relative seat 20, with minor lateral surface 9 substantially
contacting relative end wall 16, with major lateral surfaces 7 and
8 substantially contacting relative lateral walls 18 and 19, and
with minor lateral surface 10 flush with an inlet 25 of relative
seat 20 and with the outer periphery of packing wheel 11.
[0019] Unloading station 22 comprises an unloading guide 26 located
outside packing wheel 11 and comprising two facing plates 27 and 28
parallel to each other, to axis 13 and to direction 24, and of
which plate 28 is located downstream from plate 27 in direction 14.
More specifically, plates 27 and 28 are separated by a distance
equal to the distance between walls 18 and 19 of each pocket 15,
and approximately equal to but no less than the distance between
major lateral surfaces 7 and 8 of product 3, and define, between
them, an unloading passage 29 for unloading products 3. Plate 27
projects, with respect to plate 28, towards the periphery of
packing wheel 11, and is defined, towards packing wheel 11, by an
end folding edge 30 parallel to axis 13 and positioned
substantially contacting the outer periphery of packing wheel 11
and substantially tangent to the path, coincident with paths P1 and
P2, of inlets 25 of seats 20 of pockets 15. Unloading station 22
also comprises a pusher 31, which moves back and forth in direction
24 and cooperates, through opening 17 in a pocket 15 arrested at
unloading station 22, with the minor lateral surface 10 of a
product 3 housed inside said pocket 15, to expel product 3 from
relative seat 20 to unloading guide 26 through unloading passage
29.
[0020] Unit 1 also comprises a substantially semicylindrical fixed
guide plate 32 coaxial with axis 13 and defined internally by a
semicylindrical surface 33 extending along packing path P1 between
loading station 21 and unloading station 22. Plate 32 is defined,
at the end immediately downstream from loading station 21 in
direction 14, by an end folding edge 34 parallel to axis 13, and,
immediately upstream from unloading station 22, extends through a
braking station 35 comprising an opening 36 formed through plate 32
and parallel to axis 13, and a hammer 37 of a gripper-type braking
device 38.
[0021] Hammer 37 comprises a lever 39 located outside plate 32 and
hinged to a frame 39a to rotate, with respect to plate 32, about an
axis 40 parallel to axis 13; a pad 41 made of resilient material,
fitted integrally to a free end of lever 39, facing plate 32, and
movable through opening 36 when lever 39 is rotated about axis 40;
and a spring 42 for normally keeping pad 41 in a work position
engaging opening 36 and interfering with packing path P1.
[0022] In addition to hammer 37, braking device 38 comprises, for
each pocket 15, an anvil 43 movable with relative pocket 15 along
paths P1 and P2 and comprising a bracket 44 integral with an outer
surface of relative lateral wall 18, and a roller 45, which extends
along the whole length of relative pocket 15 in the direction of
axis 13, is substantially the same length as pad 41, and is fitted
to relative bracket 44 to rotate idly, with respect to relative
pocket 15, about an axis 46 parallel to axis 13. Roller 45 has at
least one peripheral portion made of resilient material, and is
positioned with its outer surface tangent to the plane of inlet 25
of relative seat 20.
[0023] In actual use, simultaneously with the arrest of an empty
pocket 15 at loading station 21, a sheet 6 of packing material
(FIGS. 1 and 2a) is fed through loading station 21, along a plane
P3 tangent to the outer periphery of packing wheel 11 and in a
direction 47 crosswise to axis 13, and is arrested with a first
intermediate portion 48 facing relative inlet 25 and interposed
between inlet 25 and the minor lateral surface 9 of a product 3
ready for loading at loading station 21, and with an end portion
49, generally narrower than major lateral surfaces 7 and 8 of
product 3, projecting upstream from relative inlet 25.
[0024] Pusher 23 is then activated (FIGS. 1 and 2b) to insert
product 3 and relative sheet 6 of packing material inside relative
seat 20 through relative inlet 25, and so fold sheet 6 of packing
material into a U about relative product 3. More specifically,
following insertion, sheet 6 of packing material is folded about
relative product 3 with end portion 49 contacting part of major
lateral surface 7 of relative product 3 and between major lateral
surface 7 and lateral wall 18 of relative pocket 15; with
intermediate portion 48 contacting minor lateral surface 9 of
relative product 3 and between minor lateral surface 9 and end wall
16 of relative pocket 15; with a further intermediate portion 50
contacting major lateral surface 8 of relative product 3 and
between major lateral surface 8 and lateral wall 19 of relative
pocket 15; and with an end portion 51, opposite end portion 49,
projecting radially outwards from relative seat 20 through relative
inlet 25 and coplanar with the inner surface of lateral wall 19 of
relative pocket 15.
[0025] As packing wheel 11 is then fed one step in direction 14,
end portion 51 contacts end edge 34 of plate 32 and is folded
backwards (FIGS. 1 and 2c) so that a portion 52 of end portion 51
contacts minor lateral surface 10 of relative product 3, and an end
portion 53 of end portion 51, opposite end portion 49 and generally
slightly narrower than major lateral walls 7 and 8, projects
rearwards of relative inlet 25, is substantially coplanar with
minor lateral surface 10 of relative product 3, and contacts the
outer surface of relative roller 45, the distance of which from the
rear end of relative inlet 25 is less than the width of end portion
53.
[0026] Sheet 6 of packing material remains in this position up to
unloading station 22, where, upon operation of pusher 31, end
portion 53 is brought into contact with and folded backwards by end
edge 30 of plate 27, and, as relative product 3 is inserted inside
unloading guide 26, is positioned contacting major lateral surface
7 of relative product 3 and overlapping end portion 49 to complete
relative tubular wrapping 2.
[0027] Along the final portion of packing path P1, the pocket 15
considered is fed through braking station 35, where pad 41
frictionally engages portion 52 of sheet 6 of packing material, so
as to exert braking action on the whole of end portion 51, which is
thus maintained contacting minor lateral surface 10 of relative
product 3 by tension acting in a direction 54 (FIG. 2c) opposite
direction 14.
[0028] As the pocket 15 considered is arrested at unloading station
22, relative roller 45 is arrested facing opening 36, the distance
of which from the upstream end of unloading passage 29 equals the
distance between roller 45 and the upstream end of inlet 25 of
relative seat 20. Consequently, as the pocket 15 considered is
arrested facing unloading passage 29, the tension applied by pad 41
to end portion 51, as a consequence of the rotation of packing
wheel 11 and the friction between pad 41 and end portion 51, is
maintained by virtue of end portion 53 being gripped between pad 41
and relative roller 45. The same tension is also maintained as
product 3 and relative sheet 6 of packing material are inserted
inside unloading guide 26 through unloading passage 29 and as end
portion 53 is folded, by virtue of end portion 53, as it is folded,
still being gripped between hammer 37 and relative anvil 43 of
braking device 38, and sliding frictionally between pad 41 and
relative roller 45 arrested facing each other with pad 41 pressed
against roller 45 by spring 42.
[0029] In other words, braking device 38 provides for forming a
tubular wrapping 2 adhering perfectly to the lateral surface of
relative product 3.
[0030] In connection with the above, it should be stressed that
braking device 38 is totally passive, and requires no power or
control device for its operation.
[0031] Obviously, braking device 38 may be replaced with any type
of active braking device, such as a suction device (not shown),
associated with plate 32.
* * * * *